This gift of an understanding heart is one that would benefit all of us. Think of your own little corner of the world—how much better it would be if other people would listen to and understand you; how much more smoothly things would run if you were in charge! But Solomon didn’t ask that others understand him better, but rather that his own heart be more sensitive so he could better know what his people needed. We can see leaders today in both public and private life that would be more effective if they had an understanding heart, but it’s not in our power to make that happen. What we can do is make our own hearts more understanding—by taking the time to listen, by seeking to place ourselves in the shoes of the other, by thinking of how an action will impact someone else before we think of what might hold for us. It seems to me that an understanding heart grows with practicing understanding, and it shrinks with self-centeredness.
In Mark's Gospel (6: 7-13), Jesus sent the apostles on a mission; to travel the country preaching, healing, and anointing. After a while, they return and report to Jesus (Mark 6: 30-34). I can imagine them being excited, maybe even energized, but also drained and ready for a rest. I can hear them energetically reporting to Jesus what they had seen and done, each trying to top the other with good news, perhaps not sure if they were doing exactly what he wanted, perhaps looking for approval from him for their decisions. But the overall theme seems to be that they are hungry and tired. Jesus invites them to rest, but it doesn’t seem that the people will let them. Even as they try to separate themselves for just a little time, more and more people are coming to hear the message Jesus is bringing.
We can probably all relate to the human feelings of the apostles. We all have those busy times of year when it seems something crowds out all the other things we want to be doing in our lives. We get hungry and tired and don’t think we can do more.
Jonas Salk, the inventor of the polio vaccine named after him, said when he received the Congressional Medal for Distinguished Civilian Achievement in 1956, “The greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.” I think most of us have said at one time or another when confronted with a troubling, or emotionally draining, or other situation where we feel limited in our powers that “I wish I could do more.” Yet the example we see from Jesus is not to say it, but to just do it. Jesus found the strength to meet the needs of those who came to Him when the apostles needed to rest. Jesus understood in His heart that more needed to be done and that He could do it.
One lesson for us in this story is that when we are at the end of our power to act, we can always turn to Jesus and ask Him to take over. That’s comforting, and what Jesus tells us He wants to do; “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). But another lesson is that the problem for me, and perhaps some of you, is in having the strength to allow Jesus to take over. We are like the apostles – we want to have control and don’t want to admit we might be powerless to act. We might be tired and hungry, but we would rather cling to that tiredness than admit we should give in and allow Jesus to comfort us with His solace and sustenance. Jesus wants to be the shepherd who steps in to lead us when we feel this way, and we want to resist by being foolish and self-centered. We want to close our heart to understanding that we can do more by giving up our selves to the greater love of Jesus.
My prayer today for all of us is for the gift of two graces from God – to become more understanding by being more understanding, and to have the strength to let go so Jesus can help us.
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